||Pre"co*ces, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) Same as PrÊcoces.
Pre*co"cious (?), a. [L. praecox, -ocis, and praecoquus, fr.
praecoquere to cook or ripen beforehand; prae before + coquere to cook.
See 3d Cook, and cf. Apricot.] 1. Ripe or mature before the proper or
natural time; early or prematurely ripe or developed; as, precocious
trees. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
2. Developed more than is natural or usual at a given age; exceeding
what is to be expected of one's years; too forward; -- used especially
of mental forwardness; as, a precocious child; precocious talents.
Pre*co"cious*ly, adv. In a precocious manner.
{ Pre*co"cious*ness, Pre*coc"i*ty (?), } n. [Cf. F. prÈcocitÈ.] The
quality or state of being precocious; untimely ripeness; premature
development, especially of the mental powers; forwardness.
Saucy precociousness in learning.
Bp. Mannyngham.
That precocity which sometimes distinguishes uncommon genius.
Wirt.
Pre*co`e*ta"ne*an (?), n. One contemporary with, but older than,
another. [Obs.] Fuller.
Pre*cog"i*tate (?), v. t. [L. praecogitatus, p. p. of praecogitare. See
Pre-, and Cogitate.] To cogitate beforehand. [R.] Sherwood.
Pre*cog`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. praecogitatio.] Previous cogitation. [R.]
Bailey.
Pre`cog*ni"tion (?), n. [L. praecognitio, fr. praecognoscere to
foreknow. See Pre-, and Cognition.] 1. Previous cognition. Fotherby.
2. (Scots Law) A preliminary examination of a criminal case with
reference to a prosecution. Erskine.
Pre*cog"ni*za*ble (?), a. Cognizable beforehand.
Pre*cog"nosce (?), v. t. [L. praecognoscere to foreknow.] (Scots Law)
To examine beforehand, as witnesses or evidence.
A committee of nine precognoscing the chances.
Masson.